Urdu’s Sweetness Must Be Preserved, Says Union Minister Ramdas Athawale At Bharat Express Conclave

The Bharat Express Urdu Conclave, held at the India Islamic Culture Centre under the banner of ‘Bazm-e-Sahafat’, witnessed Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale praising the linguistic beauty of Urdu and promising full government support for its promotion.

The event was attended by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra and Bharat Express Editor-in-Chief and CMD Upendrra Rai, who joined as special guests.

Opening his address in his characteristic light-hearted style, Athawale said that the warm welcome extended to him strengthened his resolve to support Urdu. He linked the language to the vision of a ‘New India’, declaring, “I always speak of New India, so I will stand with Urdu. I give my support to Bharat Express because strengthening India is my mission.”

Speaking on the occasion of Constitution Day, Athawale paid tribute to Dr BR Ambedkar, recalling that the Constitution’s draft was handed over to Dr Rajendra Prasad and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on November 26, 1949.

He described the Constitution as the ‘soul of the Indian people’, emphasising its inclusive nature, “India belongs to all religions, all languages and all communities. Our democracy is strong, and we must eradicate casteism, linguistic divides and communalism.”

Urdu’s Cultural Sweetness and India’s Linguistic Wealth

Athawale placed strong emphasis on Urdu’s charm, describing it as a ‘sweet and beautiful language’. He urged people to respect all languages and celebrated India’s linguistic richness, noting that the country is home to 1,820 languages across 28 states and eight Union Territories.

He also highlighted Urdu’s presence within the Muslim community and in Mumbai’s schools and newspapers.

The minister praised Urdu poetry as powerful and profound, adding that while not everyone understands its nuances, those who do appreciate its depth. He also acknowledged the cultural influence of qawwali, calling it a captivating art form.

Referring to national development, Athawale said the NDA government had come to power three times and expressed confidence that it would return for a fourth term. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership for India’s economic rise and predicted that the country would soon become the world’s third-largest economy.

Condemning conflict based on language, he pointed to Mumbai as an example of coexistence, noting that nearly 40 per cent of its residents are non-Marathi speakers who still communicate in Marathi.

Without naming the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), he criticised violence in the name of language and urged writers, scholars and journalists to use Urdu literature to unify society.

Concluding his address, Athawale said it was the collective responsibility of all citizens to strengthen Urdu. He added that the Government of India would continue making every possible effort to promote the language and preserve its cultural legacy.

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